Oh Devon, I sure don't envy you, but I guess I can see both sides of this one.
I can certainly see why she'd feel devastated, and as if God is pouring it onto
her right now. The translation may not be Biblical, but while we don't
consciously make ourselves disabled, our thinking has a whole lot to do with how
wethink and even create with the words we say. Unity School of Christianity
talks about what is termed metaphysical thinking, and according to their
teachings, Jesus was teaching people who had little or no understanding in many
cases as to how to read or write, let alone understand the intellectualism
behind metaphysics. When He healed those who were ill, He talked about error
thinking, and though Barb has not consciously created the horrible diseases
she's faced with, she sure isn't helping her own cause by the thoughts she's
currently thinking. I agree with Rosie in that probably all you can do and all
she can understand right now is that you're her friend and you want to be as
supportive of her as you can be right now. I understand how she must be
feeling, and it's absolutely no fun when you've got two disabilities and
treatment for one conflicts with saving her sight in the eye having glaucoma.
Prayer is probably the best thing you can do, and perhaps in prayer, you'll be
guided as to what God would have you do to help her. Even while you're with
her, take a time-out and silently pray for the right words to say to her, and
ask God to guide her, too, even though she can't conceive of God at this time in
her life. Maybe she'll ultimately be really thankful she's got a friend like
you who'll stay supportive of her through her darkest hours.
Linda G.
-----Original Message-----
From: ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Devon Wilkins
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2016 10:22 PM
To: ourplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ourplace] Re: Living Blind
Thanks, Rosie. I'm definitely praying for her, because I think that God may
be the only one who may be able to help her. She's mad at Him at the
moment, mind you. Yesterday, she said to me: "They say that God won't give
you any more than what you can handle. I wish God would stop piling it on."
But yes, I will most definitely continue to be there for her. She has seen
me through lots of nasty situations, including my recent accident in which I
broke my right upper arm, so being there for her is the least I can do.
Devon.
-----Original Message-----
From: ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Rosemarie Chavarria
Sent: August-20-16 11:54 PM
To: ourplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ourplace] Re: Living Blind
Hi, Devon,
I can't think of what you can say to your friend but continue to be there
for her during these dark times. Just knowing that a person cares is
sometimes the best encouragement you can give to someone. Definitely pray
for her too.
Rosie
On 8/20/2016 8:46 PM, Devon Wilkins wrote:
To take this on a slightly different turn, here's a situation thatright eye, which eventually had to be removed.
I've been wrestling with for a few weeks now. I quite frankly don't
know what to say to this friend of mine. You may remember that I
spoke quite some time ago about a friend named Barb. She and I went
to school together, and we've known each other for almost 53 years
now. She had fairly good sight when we were in school, but when she
had her daughter, they allowed some of the anesthetic to leak into her
She also battles with a neuromuscular disorder which landed her in apain.
wheelchair a couple of years ago. Now, she has developed something
called polymyalgia rheumatica, which causes very severe muscular and joint
She's on steroids now, which are playing Hell with the glaucoma in hersuggestions you might have. Devon.
left eye. Her doctor has pretty much told her that she will one day
lose her remaining sight. She understandably gets quite depressed
when she thinks about being totally blind and using a wheelchair.
I've advised her to brush up on the braille she learned as a kid, and
to contact Southeastern Guide Dog training center in Florida, because
they train blind people to use a guide dog and a power wheelchair.
Can anyone suggest what else I can say to keep her spirits up? Sandy
knows Barb, too, and she'll remember her as being a very active
person. This will be devastating to her. Thanks in advance for any
line; do not include quotation marks:
-----Original Message-----
From: ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Linda Gehres
Sent: August-20-16 10:52 PM
To: ourplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ourplace] Living Blind
Gaston, what a smart thing to say to someone in the world of the
sighted who's really needing to be educated.
Linda G.
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